Transforming the hearts of man...

Fighting for the Heart of the Few...

An Obstinate Heart

Deuteronomy 2:30 NIV
“But Sihon king of Heshbon refused to let us pass through. For the LORD your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to give him into your hands, as he has now done.”

Deuteronomy 2:30 KJV
“But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him: for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his heart obstinate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as [appeareth] this day.”

This week we continue our “heart” study by looking at another condition of the heart: obstinate.

You might notice that this passage actually combines two conditions, hard and obstinate, to describe Sihon’s heart.  My March 15, 2008 note covered the condition of a hardened heart.  This week we’ll focus on just the obstinate heart and what that means to us and to our relationship with God.

The Hebrew word for obstinate is amats.
As we explore the Obstinate Heart, we first notice that the word is found only seven times in the NIV.  Not surprisingly, it is usually found associated with other conditions of the heart such as stubborn and hardened and disobedient.  

At first look the meaning seems to carry with it a positive note.  However, keep in mind that the first mention in scripture uses it as an adjective to describe the noun heart.  In all seven references the word carries a negative meaning.

Man's heart can be obstinate.  Let us explore from scripture the why's or causes and “how to prevent” this negative condition.

The first reason one might have an obstinate heart can be found this very passage.  Notice, that Sihon king of Heshborn's heart was made obstinate and his spirit stubborn by the LORD your God.  Interesting thought, and it leads my mind to this question:  If the LORD our God made kings’ and rulers’ hearts and spirits stubborn and obstinate all those years ago, is He not the same God, capable of doing the same thing today?  Yes! Have you ever gone toe-to-toe with an obstinate person in a place of authority?  Well, maybe not toe-to-toe, but we all come across Kings or Presidents or Pastors or Parishioners that for whatever reason when it comes to a particular issue are obstinate.  

I'm sure some would say I'm obstinate when it comes to some issues or topics.  Push the right buttons and the heels dig in and the blood pressure raises and this ol' boy just ain't moving.  What's crazy is when I respond this way to an issue that simply doesn't make a hill of beans’ worth of difference one way or the other.  

I know I keep coming back to this but I can't help but wonder just how many of us have had “obstinate” issues due to pride.  You know, “My way, the only way and there no hearing otherwise.”  

How to Overcome an Obstinate Heart:
I must confess, if the LORD makes a man’s heart obstinate, there must be a very good reason for doing so.  There's a lesson to be learned by the one with the heart ailment or a lesson for those under his authority.  Either way, or quite often both ways, there's a lesson to the learned.  Sometimes the hardest thing to do is learn that lesson.  Sometimes it takes days, months and even years for the lesson to be learned.  

In the secular corporate world one doesn't have to look far to hear of or be directly effected by an obstinate-hearted individual.  I recently heard the analogy of a rubber band that's stretched.  At a certain point there is no more give.  You reach the elastic maximum of the rubber band.  Now, take that same rubber band after it's been oiled, and it can exceed the original stretching capacity.

When you find yourself under the authority of an obstinate hearted leader allow the anointing oil of the Holy Spirit to stretch you to new limits.  If you are in a position of authority, simply ask others if you’re being obstinate.  I know and realize it takes humility do such, but you might be surprised.  It never hurts to seek solid Godly advice and input.  

Please join me praising God and praying for the following:

1. Praise Him for He is on the throne.  
2. Praise God for sensitive-hearted men who earnestly desire God and His perfect will.
3. Continue to pray for our nation!  Many are feeling uncertain with the election results.  Pray for those servicing our country.  Pray for humble hearts.  Pray for spiritual revival where needed.
4. Continue to pray for those in our sphere of influence that need what PHM has to offer.  Pray for outreach and opportunity.  Pray for culture change.  Pray for eyes to be open to what we have become as a person, a country and nation.  
5. Continue to pray for Brad, Ryan and me.  Pray for our marriages and our families.  Pray for our boldness, too.
6. Pray for each other, your local body of believers and your brothers and sisters in Christ.  

Sharing from the Heart,

Steve